IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/, 


//A 


C^/ 


^^ 


^.^^ 


■^ 


/. 


s$ 


'^ 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


Li  |2i     |Z5 

US  ■■■ 

^  K^    12.2 

£f  144   ""^ 
Hf   L£    12.0 


U    11 1.6 


-► 


"> 


% 


^>. 


<> 

^v* 
■^ 


Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145S0 

(776)  S72-4503 


iV 


^ 


\ 


s^ 


\\ 


rv 


4^^^^ 


^ 


CrHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Coliection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVticroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiq 


ues 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiquei 


Th 
to 


The  Instivute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  oe  bibliographically  unique, 
wliich  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,    r  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


Pyl    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagte 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  peiiiculte 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Coloured  maps/ 
C 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Enure  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planciries  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reiid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lore  d'ure  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppiimentaires: 


L'Instltut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  euemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  norniale  do  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  peiiicui^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxet 
Pages  d6color6es,  tacheties  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Cluality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materU 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppi^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

|~T|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~7|  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Cluality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmtos  A  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  [mage  possible. 


Th 
po 
of 
fill 


Or 
be 
th( 
sio 
oti 
fir 
sio 
or 


Th 
shi 
Til" 
w^ 

Ma 

dif 
enl 

be^ 
rig 
req 
me 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filrn^  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

7 

H 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


6tails 
w  du 
nodifier 
ir  une 
ilmage 


IS 


Th«  copy  filmed  h«r«  has  baan  raproducad  thank* 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Glenbow-Alberta  Institute 
Calgary 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spaclf Ications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
slon,  or  tha  bacic  covar  whan  appropriate.  All 
othar  original  copioa  ars  filmad  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  Imprea- 
slon,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  page  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaira  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
ginArositA  de: 

Glenbow-Alberta  Institute 
Calgary 

Les  images  suivantas  ont  M  reproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  et 
da  la  nattet*  da  I'axamplaira  film«,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Lea  axemplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papier  eat  imprim^a  sont  fllmte  an  commanqant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  ampreinte 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmis  nn  commanpant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporta  une  ampreinte 
d'impreasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  la 
cas:  la  symbole  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  'FIN' . 


Maps,  piataa.  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  raduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  expoaura  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illuatrata  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  pauvent  dtre 
filmte  i  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtra 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmA  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droita. 
at  da  haut  Bn  baa.  nn  prenant  la  nombra 
d'images  nAcessaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
iilustrant  la  mAthode. 


»rrata 
to 


palure. 
in  d 


n 

32X 


1  2  3 


1  2  3 

4  5  6 


I . 


14  "^-i^]  p 


C.\ 


POLAR  COLONIZATION. 


j 


i 


THE  PRELIMINARY 


ARCTIC  EXPEDITION 


OF 


1877. 


IJnRESFoui),  Printer, 

52:;  Seventh  Street, 

Washington,  )).  C. 


&*- 


it^ol'J' 


[•»^ 


c.\ 


POLAR  COLONIZATION. 


THE  PRELIMINARY 

ARCTIC  EXPEDITION 

(ii- 

d877. 


A  number  of  public  spirited  and  generous  citizens  of  tbe 
United  States,  baving  faitb  in  tbe  success  of  tbe  Ct)lonization 
plan  as  a  means  of  Arctic  Exploration,  and  l)elieving  in  its 
ultimate  approval  by  Congress,  in  substantial  accordance 
with  tbe  bill  reported  favorably  from  tbe  Committee  on 
Naval  Aftiiirs  of  the  House  of  Re[»resentative8  at  tbe  last 
session  of  the  Forty-fourth  Congress,  contributed  from  their 
private  means  a  sufficient  sum  for  the  purchase  and  outfit 
of  a  small  vessel  to  be  sent  to  the  Arctic  seas  for  the  purpose 
of  collecting  such  supplies  during  the  ensuing  winter  as 
might  be  useful  for  the  main  expedition  of  1878,  if  that 
expedition  should  be  authorized.  It  was  at  first  intended 
-to  limit  the  mission  of  this  vessel  to  the  collection  of  ma- 
terial only,  but  the  opportunity  for  scientific  investigation 
was  so  inviting,  and  the  added  cost  incurred  thereby  so 
very  trifling  in  comparison  with  the  results  to  be  attained, 
that  space  was  made  on  board  for  two  observers  and  their 
ne(!e8sary  apparatus.  One  of  these  observers  was  selected 
upon  the  recommendation  of  Professor  Ellas  Loomis,  of  Yale 
College,  and  instructed  to  pay  especial  attention  to  meteoro- 
logical phenomona,  while  the  other  was  selected  as  naturalist 
of  tbe   expedition   by  Professor  Spencer  F.  Baird,   of  the 


LI-  k-o/^ 


2 


SiiiitliHoniiiii  riistitutioii,  from  whom  lie  reeuivod  Hpeciul  in- 
structions. 

Oiipliiiii  (Jcoi'n'e  E.  'r_vsoii,  who  rtcrvod  on  hoard  ihu  l*o- 
lari.s  with  (yuiitaiii  Hall,  was  iMilrusttMJ  with  tho  task  of 
sukictii.jLj  a  Huitabk;  vessel  tor  rhe  i)rt Timinary  expedition, 
wliicli,  while  larijfe  enon^'h  to  siceomplish  the  (h-sii-ed  objects, 
wouhl  not  exceed  in  cost  the  sum  avaihihle  tor  its  purchase 
and  outfit.  After  carcd'ul  examination  ht^  selected  the  i'Vo/-- 
enrc,  of  New  London,  a  schoonei"  of  tifty-six  tons  burden 
which  was  purchased  upon  his  recommendation,  ami  the 
work  of  .streni^theiiing  her  for  ice  navigation  ut  once  com- 
menced under  his  personal  supervision.  It  was  at  first  hoped 
to  have  the  vessel  ready  for  sailin<ij  on  the  2r)th  of  didy,  but 
the  illness  of  Cai»tain  Tyson,  and  the  prevalen(,'e  of  rainy 
weather  delayed  her  until  the  morning  of  August  3d,  upon 
which  date  she  sailed  with  a  full  crew  and  complete  outfit 
f(^r  one  year's  work,  including  the  necessary  ai)j>aratU8  for  a 
whaling  voyage  on  a  snudl  scale,  as  it  is  proposed  tb'  t  the 
vessel  shall  bring  on  her  return  voyage  a  cin-go  of  bono  and 
oil,  and  thus  make  the  enter})riso  a  self-sui)porting  one,  if 
possible. 

The  [)ublic  interest  evim-ed  in  the  [)roj»osed  Arctic  Colony 
has  been  very  gratifying  from  the  tirst,  and  the  fitting  out  of 
the  ^preliminary  ex))edition  brought  ajtplications  in  great 
nund)ers,  both  i)ersonal  and  b^'  letter,  from  }.)arties  desirous 
of  accompanying  it  as  members  of  the  crew,  us  passengers,  or 
in  any  ciipacity  that  would  enal)le  tlieni  to  share  in  the  pro- 
spective honors  of  the  enterprise.  The  good  nuiterial  ottered 
was  so  large  that  it  made  the  selection  a  ditticult  task;  but 
it  is  believed  that  no  little  Land,  better  fitted  for  the  work, 
by  strong  frames,  courage,  and  endurance,  have  ever  gone 
forth  to  the  Arctic  Seas  than  those  who  sailed  upon  the 
Florence.     The  officers  and  crew  are  as  follows: 

George  E.  Tyson,  New  London,  master;  William  Sisson, 
New  Lomlon,  first  mate;  Dennison  Burrows,  New  London, 
second  unite;  Eleazer  Cone,  New  London,  steward;  Orray 
Tuft  Sherman,  Providence,  meteorologist  and  photographer; 


1 


8 


., 


LikIwIi;  Kuiiilciii,  Madison,  Wis.,  iiiitiiralist ;  |{ichar(l  M. 
York,  Norwicli;  William  A.  Alhiii,  Sajji;  llarhor;  .lames  W. 
Lee,  Xew  London,  and  .loel  B.  Bottles,  of  Granhy,  stamen. 
Cluirles  ITenrv  Kuller,  Coieliester;  David  K.  Keese,  York, 
]*a.,  and  John  Mcl'arland,  New  Lomlon,  iji'een  hands.  Of 
the  ei'ew  the  youngest  is  nineteen  years  old,  and  the  ohlewt 
otdy  twenty-tour. 

The  Florence  \h  ii  <>;o()d  sea-boat,  stauneh,  Btont,  sea-worthy, 
and  a  fast  sailer,  and  lias  l)een  thoroughly  strenii'thened  for 
hi!r  encounters  with  the  ice.  The  supply  of  provisions  and 
other  stores  for  ofHeersand  crew  is  ample  for  twelve  !nontlis, 
and  can,  if  necessary,  be  made  to  last  six  months  longer. 
Kind  friends  from  all  jjarts  of  the  country  have  contributed 
from  their  stores,  in  addition  to  articles  of  food  and  clothing, 
a  liberal  supply  of  books  and  papers  to  wile  away  the  long, 
weary  hours  of  the  sunless  Arctic  winter.  A  spare  berth  in 
the  forecastle  is  tilled  with  story-books,  histories,  novels,  and 
volumes  of  poetry:  a  large  trunk  is  tilled  to  overLlowing 
with  i)aper8,  and  still  another  is  h)adid  down  with  maga- 
zines; the  whole  making  a  library  of  considerable  dimen- 
Bions.  The  heads  of  several  Departments  of  the  (xovern- 
ment  have  shown  a  kindly  interest  in  the  expedition,  not 
merely  by  verbal  api»roval,  but  by  substantial  aid.  The 
different  bureaus  of  the  VVar  Deiiartment,  acting  unck'r  the 
authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  have  been  ])articulai'ly 
active  in  the  matter.  The  Ordnance  OtHce  furnished  ritles 
and  muskets,  and  necessary  ammunition.  The  Chief  Sigiud 
Officer  of  the  Army  supplied  a  complete  outfit  of  necessary 
instruments  for  making  meteorological  observations.  The 
Surgeon  General  furnished  a  sujjply  of  medicines  and  the  ne- 
cessary minor  surgical  instruments  for  use  in  case  of  acci- 
dents to  members  of  the  expedition,  and  the  Quartermaster 
Gentiral  furnished  tents  and  camp  equipage.  The  Secretary 
of  the  Xavy  furnished  a  complete  outfit  of  maps,  charts,  and 
Bailing  directions.  To  these  heads  of  Departments  and  Bu- 
reaus the  grateful  thatd<s  of  the  friends  of  Arctic  Ex[»lora- 
tion  are  due  for  their  timely  and  efficient  aid.     The  citizens 


of  the  ITiiitcd  States,  frMiii  nil  (lUiirtors  .'iiid  all  <rnH'cti()ii8, 
camo  forward  with  eontributions  in  money  or  in  kind,  in 
Hii|i|)ort  of  tWi  undertaking.  No  better  test  of  the  interest 
felt  in  the  Hubjeet,  and  the  eonviction  (Mitertained  of  its  ini- 
portanee  and  the  ultimate  .success  of  the  main  expedition,  oould 
bo  found  than  in  this  widely  spread  and  voluntary  sujiport 
Many  of  these  contributions  were  accompanied  by  letters 
tilled  with  |»rayers  for  the  success  of  the  undertakinij^.  All 
classes  of  the  community,  and  all  portions  of  its  ter- 
ritory w(!re  represented  in  these  donations;  and  it  would 
be  invidious  to  name  those  who  ii^ave  larii:;ely,  while  so  many 
gave,  from  tlieir  humble  stor*^,  what  may  most  aptly  be 
termed  "the  widow's  mite." 

The  following  instructions,  furnished  to  Captain  Tyson 
upon  the  day  of  sailitig,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  aim,  objects, 
and  scope  of  this  preliminary  expedition. 

Wasiiin(iton,  Jidtj  19,  1877. 
Captain  Georgk  K.  Tyson, 

CdiniiMHiling  I'reliminiiry  Arctic  H.tjieditinn  of  1877,  New  London,  Conn. 

Sir:  The  command  of  the  schooner  Florcvcc,  of  the  Pre- 
liminary Arctic  Ex[)edition  of  1877,  is  intrusted  to  you,  a?Kl 
the  officers  and  men  forming  the  crew  are  enjoined  to  render 
strict  obedience  to  your  orders. 

In  the  event  of  your  death  while  on  this  ex))edition — an 
event  whicli  is  to  be  devoutly  hoped  may  not  occur — the 
command  will  devolve  upon  the  iirst  mate,  and  should  he 
also  be  disabled  or  die,  upon  the  second  mate  ;  and  such  sur- 
vivor will  carry  out,  to  the  best  o\'  his  ability,  the  objects  of 
the  expedition,  keejting  a  stout  heart  and  committing  him- 
self and  comrades  to  the  care  of  Divine  Providence. 

THE    OBJECT    OF    THE    EXPEDITION. 

The  primary  object  of  the  expedition  is  the  collection  of 
material  for  the  use  of  the  future  colony  on  the  shores  of 
Lady  Franklin  Bay.  This  material  will  consist  of  Esquimaux 
to  the  number  of  ten  families — if  that  number  can  be  ob- 
tained of  young,  strong,  healthy  persons  willing  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  location  of  the  future  colony — of  dogs,  not  less 
than  twenty-five  in  number,  mostly  females,  and  selected  for 
their  docility,  training,  strength,  and  endurance;  of  sledges, 
two  in  number,  and  completely  and  carefully  iitted  up  for 


* 


travel,  and  of  clolliiiii;'  in  ani|»li'  ([uaiititii'rt  to  supply  Hfty 
JOPHoris  tor  tlireo  yoars.  Tliu  clotliini^  will  he  i-ucriilly  so- 
t'ctiMJ,  of  clioico  furs  and  skins,  an<l  all  niailc  ii|>  i)y  nativo 
wonu'n.  Till!  sfttondarv  ol»ji'('t  of  the  cxpiMlitinn  is  tlu'  i!oU 
Icction  of  Hcic'iitili(!  data  and  specinioiiH,  as  the  lii'ld  in  a  new 
one  and  posscHsini;  unusual  intort'st. 

wM\i,iN<i  i;n  vovauk. 
Tlu'  third,  and  to  the  t-rew  most  interesting  ohjeet,  is  the 
ea{»ture  of  a  sutHcient  aiuount  of  hone  aiul  oil  to  niiike  a 
protitahle  return  eai\<:;o,  and  this  part  ol  the  woi'k  is  so  cotn- 
pletely  within  your  own  piMvince  that  I  will  not  venture  to 
give  any  inst ructions.  1  lnu■^t  eaution  you,  howeM-r,  to  he 
on  your  guard  against  K'tting  the  juirstiit  of  gain  interfere 
in  any  manner  with  the  successful  issue  of  the  two  first 
nauu'd  ohjeets  of  the  expedition,  it  is  from  them  that  the 
lasting  residts  of  the  \iiyage  will  i)e  ohtained,  and  the  inter- 
ests of  science  and  commerce  hest  8uhserve(l.  Tlu'  pre<'ise 
locality  of  your  winter  (piarti'rs  is  lel't  in  a  great  measure  to 
your  judgment,  hut  should  prohahly  he  on  the  northern  side 
of  CUnnherland  Island.  In  making  the  sidection,  if  the  state 
of  weather  and  condition  of  the  ice  leaves  any  (dioice,  the 
locality  should  he  that  which  is  hest  adapted  loi-  tlu;  collee- 
tion  of  supjilies,  and  which  oilers  the  hest  liicilities  for  break- 
ing out  in  the  summer  of  187S,  in  time  to  reach  Disco  hy 
August  1,  if  possible,  and  eertaiidy  not  later  than  August  (1. 

(,'Al{|N(i    FOR    TlIK    NATIVKS    AND    DotiS. 

I'rovision  must  be  made  for  the  i)roper  maintenance  and 
care  of  the  natives  who  are  to  become  mend)ers  of  the  future 
Polar  (.'olony:  and  also  of  the  dogs,  which  are  to  form  so 
iinpoi'tant  a  jmrt  of  the  outfit  of  that  colony.  They  must  bo 
quartered  as  eomfoHahly  as  tin;  limited  accommodations  of 
the  schooner  will  permit,  fed  well  and  kept  thoroughly  clean. 

THE    SCIKNTISTS. 

Tlu;  two  scientific  members  of  tlie  oxitedition,  winle  not 
forming,  strictly  speaking,  a  part  of  the  crew,  will,  in  case 
of  necessity,  be  required  to  perform  duty,  and  will  at  all 
times  be  subject  to  yo\ir  orders  and  discipline.  Kvery  proper 
facility  will  ije  given  them  in  the  discharge  of  their  respec- 
tive duties  and  to  aid  in  securing  full  and  valuable  results 
from  their  labors.  Mr.  Sherman  will  have  charge  of  the 
meteorological  instruments,  observations  and  records,  and 
of  the  jdiotograpliic  api)ai-atus  and  work,  [n  both  of  these 
duties  it  is  my  wish  that  you  should  aid  him,  cheerfully  and 
constantly,  and  in  the  event  of  his  sickness  or  inability,  from 


6 


niiy  <'iiu><('  <o  iitlfiid  to  Ills  ohscrviifioiis,  fo  jiiiikc  hiicIi  !in'imi,'0- 
nit'iits  us  will  insure  a  conrniiioiis  si-rit's  ot'llic  most  iinpoi-t- 
nnt  OIK'S.  Till'  utmost  faiilioii  must  l>t'  oxcrclscd  in  liandliiii^ 
tlic  (U'licatu  instnimt-nts,  to  ijnard  airuiiist  tlicir  hreaUaiji'  or 
otiicr  injury  and  the  constMiiH-nt  inlii'ni|iti(Hi  of  tlic  ol)si'i-\-a- 
tions.  The  results  o|'  the  |iliolo^i'a|ihie  work  will  '»e  vcpy 
iiiterestiiiu  to  the  ijfoneral  puhlic  as  wi  II  as  to  the  seienlitie 
student,  and  vvcvy  opportunity  should  be  taken  t()  Hecure 
ptod  nei^alives  ol'  places,  localities  and  ohjeets,  and  also  of 
the  diU'erent  operations  eoniiecled  with  the  jMirsuit  and  cap- 
ture of  whales,  houIh,  fic.  Mr.  Kumlein,  who  ifoes  as  tlio 
representative  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  under  the  in- 
Htructions  of  j'roi'essor  Spencer  I*'.  Ihiird,  the  distinsruished 
naturalist,  for  the  purpose  of  col  led  in^- specimens  of  the  tloru 
und  faumi  of  the  country,  will  he  accorde<l  the  most  ample 
facilities  lor  the  |ierformance  of  his  duties  consistent  with  a 
projier  rei;ard  lor  the  main  ohjecf  ot'  tlu^  expiditiiui.  llin 
lahors,  if  prop(>rly  supported  and  reasotuihly  successful,  will 
|)ro\'e,  it  is  hoped,  of  lastiui!,'  advantaire,  and  nuike  the  expe- 
dition a  notable  one  in  scienliiie  annals. 

TIIK    KXI'HDITION    oK    1M78. 

On  reii(!bing  Disco  in  Auirust,  1H7H,  if  the  vessel  carryini^ 
the  members  and  outfit  of  the  colony  has  arri\ed,  you  will 
transfer  to  such  vessel  the  I^s(|uinuiuv,  dous,  sledii'cs  and  clo- 
thing collected  for  the  )>urp(»se,  ami  take'  the  commandiui; 
otHcer's  reeeipt  for  the  .same.  This  beiuij!;  done,  you  will  re- 
turn as  rapidly  as  possible  to  New  London,  whence  you  will 
report  by  tele!j:rapli  to  me  at  Washini^ton,  I).  ('.,  for  further 
ordcu's.  It  the  coloni/ation  vessel  has  not  arrivi'd  you  will 
wait  for  it  until  Aui^ust  15,  when  you  will  store  the  sledges 
and  clothing  to  the  eare  of  the  (irovernor  of  Disco;  leave  the 
dogs  also  in  his  eare  and  return  the  natives  to  their  home  on 
Cumberland  Island.  This  done  you  will  return  to  New 
London  and  ri'port,  as  before,  for  instructions. 

Sliouhl  any  of  your  crew  wish  to  accompany  the  coloniza- 
tion you  will  grant  them  permission  to  do  so,  with  the  eon- 
sent  of  the  commander  of  that  expedition,  and  provided  you 
retain  enough  men  to  bring  the  Florence  safely  back  to  the 
United  States. 

ti;mi'ki?ance. 

Great  care  must  be  exercised  in  the  use  of  spirituous  liijuors, 
both  among  tht!  members  of  the  expedition  and  in  dealing 
■with  the  natives.  Useful  as  li(pior  undoubtedly  is  in  its 
plaee,  and  under  suitable  restrictions,  it  is  easily  caj)al)le  of 


tilt'  most  iViti'litru'  iiltiisc  iiiitl  i»r  K'niliiii;  tliis  fX|ii'(|itinii  to 
(liMiistt'i*  iiH  i;  liiis  (lone  Dilicrs  in  iln' pust.  I  irii.Ht  in  vmir 
HtroiiLT  ,ir<" '1  House  and  |>!iHt  cxiicriciico  to  i^iiiird  iii^iiiiirtt 
iliitiircr  iVotn  tliisi  sniircc,  and  desire  vou  to  know  that  I  have 
only  j)ei'Miitted  a  sniiplv  in  (|uantityor  rKpiorrt  to  lorni  |»art 
of  tlicj  Florcnn's  ontlit  in  deference  to  voiir  own  wtronijlv  ex- 
presHod  wished. 

nr,Ai,iNii   WITH  THi';  Ar.ouniiNK.s. 

In  (li'ulinu:  with  the  natives,  it  is  my  wish,  as  donlitless  it 
IH  your  iiKilination,  thai  yon  shonld  lie  kind  and  liheral  to 
the  extent  of  yon r  means  and  ahility,  and  in  all  jioinls  of  dif- 
ference, Hhonid  any  arise,  to  he  jnsi  hnt  tirm. 

FINAL. 

Tiear  constantlv  in  mind  the  iaet  that  this  is  not  a  whalinfr 
vovai!;e,  hilt  the  first  ste|>  in  a  work  thai  will.  I  trust,  when 
completed,  he  a  noleworty  one  in  iIk!  annals  of  i^eoi«-raphieal 
and  Hcientilic  diseovery.  This  faet  slionld  also  he  carefnlly 
imjiressed  njion  the  (!r(!W,  in  order  that  they  may  work  intel- 
li,i;ently  and  with  projier  inhM'est. 

IJe  careful  ot'  the  health  of  vonr  men,  nsiiiL-- such  measnri'H 
for  tile  purpose  as  your  lon^  experience  in  Aix-Tn-  waters 
HULji^esI  as  necessary. 

In  conclusion,  f  commend  youi'selfand  crew  to  the  care  of 
an  All-wise  I'ower,  with  the  prayer  that  your  voyage  may  be 
prosperous  and  your  return  a  safe  and  happy  one. 

J  I.    \V.    iloWUATK, 

L'liitcd  suites  Army. 


INSTRUCTIONS    TO    THE    .MLTJCOJlOLUdlST. 


Washington,  D.  C,  .hiJ;/  10.  1877. 
Mr.  O.  T.  Sherman, 

Mclenrdlogint.  I'l rliniinurii  Arclir  Kr/nililinn  of  1877. 
New  Lonilnii,  Conn.  : 

Sir  :  The  accompanying  instructions  were  kindly  jireiiared 
b}'  Profes.sor  Cleveland  Abbe,  and  are  furnished  you  as  sug- 
gestions for  your  general  guidance  in  making  meteorological 
observations.  These  suggestions  may  possilily  b(-  nuxlitied 
of  necessity  by  varying  circumstances  and  conditions,  but 
should  not  be  departed  from  in  any  important  degree: 


8 


1.  It  is  considered  very  denirHblo  to  niaintuiii  a  system  of 
regular  hourly  ohservations  niirlit  and  day,  for  the  record  of 
which  the  a('C()iii|iaMyiiiii,'  hhiuk  hook  will  serve  as  the  tirst 
vohmie,  one  horizontal  line  being  devoted  to  each  hour,  and 
at  least  four  pages  devoted  to  each  day's  record,  so  that  both 
regular  and  rnisceHaneous  observations  and  notes  may  all 
appear  togethei-  in  the  same  book. 

Even  if  houi'ly  observations  cannot  be  maintained  regu- 
larly by  yourself  and  those  of  the  ship's  (irew  who  caji  as- 
sist you,  still  it  will  l)e  best  to  lule  the  book  as  for  liourly 
observations,  aiu'  attemi)t  a  bi-hourly  or  a  tri-hourly  series, 
filling  in  intermediate  hours  whenever  possible. 

2.  As  regards  the  time  to  be  used  in  •-ecording  observa- 
tions, it  is  especially  I'njoined  thiit  you  <lo  not  attempt  to 
employ  io<'al  times,  but  that  you  uniformly  em[iloy  the 
Washington  mean  time  as  given  by  the  ship's  chronometer, 
and  to  which  your  own  watch  should  always  be  regulated. 
Furthermore,  it  is  evidently  of  little  importance  whether 
the  series  of  observations  are  nuvde  at  the  beginning  of  each 
hour  or  at  some  other  minute,  and  it  is  therefore  preferred 
that  your  regular  records  be  made  at  0,35  A.  M.,  1.35  A. 
M.,  etc.,  dating  them,  of  course,  according  to  civil  reckon- 
ing, by  which  means  three  of  your  observations  will  become 
simultaneous  with  those  of  the  Signal  Service,  and  will  thus 
form  a  valuable  addition  to  its  bulletin  of  international 
simultanevHis  observations. 

3.  Accompanying  this  you  will  find  a  schedule  suggest- 
ing that  arrangement  of  the  vertical  "olumns  on  eacli  page, 
which  experience  has  shown  to  l)e  most  convenient.  The 
contents  of  these  columns  are  as  follows: 

1.  Hours  of  observation. 

2.  Attached  Thermometer, 

3.  Reading  of  the  Barometer. 

4.  Bart)metric  Corrections  and  Reductions,  viz: 
Correction  for  Instrumental  Error. 
Correction  for  Temperature, 

Reduction  to  Sea  Level. 

5.  Atmos[)lierie  Pressure  at  Sea  Level,  or  the  Barometer 
as  corrected  and  reduced, 

6.  The  T)rv  Bulb  Thermometer. 

7.  The  Wet  Bulb  Thermometer, 

(Both  should  be  read  to  tenths  of  a  degree.) 

8.  Relative  irumidity. 

9.  Force  of  Vapor. 


9 


10.  Dow  P()i!it.  (8,  9,  juul  10  taken  from  Onyot's  Kes^- 
nault.)  11.  Tlic  reudini;  of  tlie  lliiir  llyifroniL'ter.  (Ifpon- 
eible,  several  of  tliese  will  he  fiiriiislu'd  for  eoinpariHon.) 

12.  True  Direction  whence  the  Wind  r>l.  \vs. 

13.  Estimate  Force  of  Wind  (on  the  International  scale  of 
zero  to  tell.) 

14.  Keading  of  the  Anemometer  Dial.  (If  possible,  two 
anemometers,  one  elevated  much  higher  than  the  other, 
ehould  be  used.  The  simple,  single  reading  of  the  dial  run- 
ning up  to  99'Jl>  is  all  that  need  be  recorded,  as  the  hourly 
and  daily  velocities  can  be  deduced  subsec^uently.) 

15.  Kei)etition  of  column  1. 

16.  The  Amount  (in  tenths,)  kind  Jind  direction  of  the 
U|)i>er  Clouds.  (Pay  close  attention  to  the  direction,  and 
record  it  with  reference  to  the  ti'ue  nuu'idian  of  the  sixteen 
compasi-'  points;  give  the  direction  whence  the  clouds  nun'e, 
aiu],  to  secure  accuracy,  have  a  fixed  point,  on  the  earth  by 
which  to  judge  of  their  motions.) 

17.  Ditto  for  the  lower  clouds.  (If  three  layers  are  seen, 
record  the  middle  one  in  the  miscellaneous  notes.) 

18.  The  color  of  the  sky  near  the  zenith,  as  comi)ared  with 
the  standard  scales  11,  R.,  or  G.,  (blue,  rose,  gray.) 

19.  Ditto  for  the  zenith  distance  45°. 

20.  The  Weather — that  is  to  say,  the  most  striking  charac- 
teristics of  the  weather. 

21.  The  fall  of  Kain,  or  heavy  mists,  during  the  preceding 
hour. 

22.  The  I'all  of  snov/  and  sleet  unmelted. 

23.  The  amount  of  melted  snow  and  slei't.  (These  obser- 
vations can  be  made  on  shi[)-board  to  a  considerable  advant- 
age by  placing  two  or  four  rain  gauges  symmetrically  on  the 
BtarboiU'd  and  larboard.) 

24.  The  Kecord  of  the  Tide  Gauge.  (This  very  import- 
ant observation  should  be  carefully  attended  to  whenever  on 
shore  or  frozen  up  during  the  winter.) 

25.  Temperature  of  the  ocean  water  near  the  surface. 

26.  Temperature  of  the  ocean  water  at  constant  depth  of 
about  twenty  feet. 

27.  The  color  of  the  ocean  water  as  compared  with  stan- 
dard scales,  G.,  B.,  Y.,  and  1{.,  (green,  l»lue,  yellow,  and  red.) 

28.  Direction  and  Intensity  of  the  ocean  swell  or  waves. 

29.  Repetition  of  column  1. 

30.  The  Deviation  of  the  magnetic  needle.  (For  this  ob- 
servation a  delicate  compass  needle  will  serve  if  no  a[)pro- 


m 


10 


priatc  mai;'nofic  fi])pnratns  can  be  ohtained.     Its  fluctuations 
will  probably  bo  (juite  docidcd  dnriiii;  Auroras.) 

.31.  The  visibility  of  Auroras,  Ilalos,  Zcxliacal  Li^cjbt.  (The 
tbroo  plictiomeiia  should  bo  carotully  looked  for  on  all  oc- 
casions, and  if  visiblo,  the  appro) u'iato  word  or  the  corres- 
ponding synd)olsairreed  upon  at  the  Vienna  (-ongress  should 
be  ententd  in  this  column,  rcscrviiiir  a  fuller  description  for 
the  niiseelliuu'ous  notes.)  Aurora,  Lunar  Hulo,  tSolar  Halo, 
Lunar  Corona,  Solar  Corona. 

32.  Kegnault's  ui)i>aratus  for  observing  the  Dew  Point 
should  be  employed  systematically,  if  any  way  possible  to 
do  so. 

33.  Among  the  Rpecially  interesting  observations  is  that 
of  the  actual  height  of  clouds  and  direction  of  air  curients, 
as  revealed  by  sending  up  small  balloons,  which  are  fur- 
nished you  for  this  purpose.  Attac^h  to  each  balloon  a 
light  tliread,  one  hundred  feet  long,  in  such  a  nuuiner 
that  it  will  ])ull  away  at  the  slightest  tension.  Hold  the 
other  end  of  the  thread  fast  in  the  Angers,  and  count 
seconds  from  the  watch  while  the  balloon  is  ascending.  lie- 
cord  in  column  33  the  number  of  seconds  required  to  ascend 
100  feet,  which  is  the  vertical  velocity  of  the  balloon. 

34.  The  horizontal  direction  taken  by  the  balloon. 

35.  Its  horizontal  velocity,  as  estimated  by  comparison 
with  the  surrounding  country. 

86.  The  time  elai)sing  before  it  disappears  in  the  clouds. 

37.  The  Density  of  the  sea  water. 

Cobinms  1  to  14  occu}ty  page  1 ;  columns  15  to  28  occupy 
page  2;  columns  29  to  37  occupy  portion  of  page  3.  The 
rest  of  page  3  and  the  whole  of  page  4  of  each  day's  record 
is  to  be  occupied  by  short  miscellaneous  notes,  among  which 
are  to  be  included  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the  vessel 
when  at  sea.  If  you  visit  any  port  at  which  meteorological 
records  are  kept,  you  should  not  fail  to  compare  your  in- 
struments with  those  used  at  such  places,  as  a  check  upon 
the  agreement  of  the  records. 

Among  the  numerous  miscellaneous  observations  that  are 
desirable  from  northern  latitudes  are  many  that  will  be 
found  referred  to  in  tlie  Manual  and  Instructions  for  the 
Arctic  Expedition  of  1875,  to  which  you  are  hereby  re- 
ferred, as  also  to  the  reports  of  the  Permanent  Committee 
of  the  First  Interiuitional  Meteorological  Congress  at 
Vienna: 


,1 


11 

(IVige  1.) 
1877,  Aiif/ii.il  7,  Moii'imj,  iii  ,vii,  ,jt. 


1 

1— .— 

« 

^ 



nAKOMF.TKK. 

1 

P»yCH(IMF.TKR, 

Wind 

_s 

i     i 

1 

ex 

;. 

1      -l 

a 

' 

S 

^     i-S^ 

ti; 

"% 

W  *gIIINOTi)N    TiMK. 

u 
i  i- 

.■!i1| 

1  i 

S  £ 

tt  — 

1 

S     j       2  " 

Z 

1 

-  > 

3    1 

X 

U 

■^ 

1 

B 

e 

< 

5  -i    a 

^ 

■5 

I 

u> 

Hdiir.H. 

j 

• 

121i.afirii.  A.  M 

111.  ••(.".1,1.    V.  M....     

o 

3        4        6 

(i 

t 

S        it 

10 

11 

T.l 

1o 

14 

21i.  :!fiiii.  A.  M 

( Page --'.I 
1R77.    Au'iii"!  7,  Miinilaii,  nt  sm.  ,\-c. 


J 

Upper  Cloi'ds. 

Lowr.R 

(^i.oi.ns. 

coioii  of 
Sky 

I!  MNK.M.I.. 



OCK.AN. 

, 

f'now  and 

i 

'IVm-     '    .• 

« 

W\STINfi|ll.V 

Time. 

■5 

■« 

Slc't. 

ui 

pcratiin-.     i 

< 

J 

e 

c 

f 

k.' 

s 

1 

» 

■e 

. 

i.                 '■: 

r 

5 

•6 

« 

il 

•r         r 

c 

2-' 

r: 

E 

Z'i 

t 

1 

* 

< 

'•2 

« 

*f; 

N 

'-^ 

■in 

- 

- 

s 

H 

rZ     '•    £.      '    Z 

* 

12:35  A.  M.. 
1:35  A,   M.... 

16 

1 

7 

i  18 

19 

21 

oo 

23 

24 

'ii) 

■ 

26  !  27 

1 

2S 

(I'nge  3.) 
1H77,  Amjiifl  7,  MoDdiiji,  nt  .-c./,  ,Vc. 


i   it 

;  S  c 


Washinoton  Time. 


i     e   i     I     S   :(. 

'    o  -     i   ~"" 
o 


( 


X 


30     j     ;!1 


Sm\LL  RALLOnNS. 


5     i     « 


32     ,    .".3 


« 

lioiizontal. 

^ 

« 

O' 

(^ 

c 
o 

>. 

ii 

>. 

^ 

e  " 

X 

= 

c 

> 

— 

34 

;iri 

36 

37 

(I'll pre  4  I 
1877,  Ati/jwl  7,  Monldij,  at  s.-<i.  ,\r 


t*h<>rt  iniHCpllaueciiig  iioteo. 


\-2 


In   ii<l(litiou  to  the  torcii^oliii;  the  foMowiuL'"  sutrorcstioiis  of 
_  Prof.  Looiiiis  uro  fiiniiHhi'd  for  your  iiiformiition  and  guid- 
atu'o  : 

"The  ineto()r()h)<;ist  shouhl  ho  spofiiiUy  instructed,  not 
only  to  make  the  routine  ohservations  at  fixed  hours,  hnt 
also  to  be  constantly  on  the  watch  for  every  unusual  phe- 
nomenon comu'cted  either  directly  or  remotely  with  meteor- 
oloiiT.  He  ouifht  to  keep  a  detailed  re(;or(l  of  all  auroral 
phenomena,  and  it  is  extremely  desirable  that  the  expedition 
should  lu've  suitable  instruments  for  tiie  declination  of  the 
needle,  and  the  chan^'cs  which  accompany  auroral  disijlay. 
I  think  particular  attention  should  be  i;'iven  t(>o!)st,'rvin;;'  the 
direction  of  the  wind,  and  also  the  direction  of  the  hiuhest 
visible  clouds,  and  their  direction  ou^'ht  to  be  recorded  with 
great  jtrecision.  Kspecial  attention  should  be  i!;iven  to  the 
optical  [)henomena  of  the  atmos|>here,  su(;h,  for  instiuice,  as 
halves-parhelia,  &c.  The  Polar  rcijfions  exhibit  phenomena 
of  this  class  more  remarkable  than  those  we  often  see  in  the 
mi- Idle  latitudes,  or,  perhai)s  have  ever  seen,  and  these  ob- 
servations, to  be  of  much  value,  should  furnish  [trecise  mea- 
surements of  the  dimensions  and  portions  of  wiiatever  is 
observed,  particularly  of  those  features  which  are  most  un- 
usual."' 

These  special  sugii'estions,  with  such  general  ones  as  you 
will  find  in  the  Arctic  Manual,  in  Prof.  Loomis'  Work  on 
Meteorology,  in  Buchan's  llandy-lxxdv,  and  the  other  works 
on  Meteorology  which  have  been  furnished  to  you  will  be 
sutHt'ient  to  indicate  the  extent  of  the  work  to  be  done,  and 
its  most  valuable  features.  It  is  especially  impressed  upon 
you  to  keep  full  and  detaiU'd  notes  of  all  items  of  daily,  ob- 
servation and  occurrence,  in  orderthat  nothing  of  value  may 
be  lost.  Tlie  memory  must  not  be  t.usted  for  details,  but 
everything  intende<l  for  future  use  should  be  committed  to 
writing  at  the  time  the  matter  is  fresh  aiul  capable  of  verifi- 
cation. 

II.     W.     IIOWUATE, 

United  Stdtes  Army. 


13 


Memorandum  addressed  to  J.  Kumlrh),  N<ttiiral!si  of  the  Expe- 
ddion^  relatirc  to  the  Aatand  JJI.sfori/  of  the  rer/ioji  to  lie 
msUed;  l)i/  S/)nicer  F.  liaird. 

The  region  yon  visit  is  one  of  tlu-  most  interesting  in 
North  America,  and  the  least  expU)red  b}'  the  naturalist.  It 
will  furnish  an  am|)le  field  for  research,  especially  as  you 
Avill  be  on  shore  during  the  greater  part  of  your  absence 
from  the  United  States. 

Your  principal  object  should  be  to  make  collections  of  every- 
tliing  in  the  ethnological,  animal,  vegetable,  mineral,  and 
fossil  dejiartments;  so  that  you  can  i»repare  a  repoi-t  thereon, 
perhaps  an  illustrated  one,  to  be  pul)lish(Ml  in  sonic  suitable 
manner  upon  your  return.  In  view  of  this  you  should 
make  copious  notes  of  the  habits,  associations,  and  general 
condition  of  cvcrythinii'  that  von  meet  with. 

Of  mammals,  good  mountable  skins  of  the  polar  bear,  pre- 
pared with  alum  or  saltpeter,  will  be  desirable.  A  scries  of 
reindeer  should  also  be  obtained,  as  well  as  foxes,  hares,  and 
other  animals.  A  good  series  of  seals  properly  pre[)ared 
will  enable  us  to  solve  many  questions  in  regard  to  our  own 
species  at  home. 

The  walrus,  both  male  and  female,  shoubl  be  procured. 

As  many  skeletons  as  are  procurable,  and  several  skel- 
etons of  all  land  and  water  mammals  will  be  readily  market- 
able. 

The  skins  of  cetaceans  cannot  readily  be  preserved  unless 
possibly  they  can  be  preserved  in  salt.  Sketches  should  be 
made  of  the  outlines  and  distribution  of  color  of  each,  and 
the  corresponding  skulls  and  skeletons  should  be  preserved. 

Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  narwhal,  skel- 
etons of  which  are  much  in  demand. 

If  opportunity  is  allowed  you,  some  skulls  of  the  smaller 
whales  ought  to  be  procured. 

Regarding  birds,  a  special  memorandum,  prepared  by  Dr. 
Brewer  and  myself,  has  been  furnished.  You  will,  of  course, 
look  very  carefully  for  the  small  insectivora  and  conirostres, 
to  determine,  as  far  as  possible,  the  northern  distribution  of 
our  species.     Saxicolas  will  probably  be  frequently  met  with. 

Of  water  fowl,  the  rarer  geese,  the  Labrador  duck,  Sa- 
bine's and  Uoss's  gulls,  and  the  Ivor}'  gull  are  those  which 
it  is  most  desirable  to  obtain. 

Any  [)etrels  or  shearwaters  will  also  be  of  interest. 

Endeavor  if  possible  to  obtain  sj)eciraen8  of  black  guille- 
mot, with  a  blackish  bar  partly  across  the  white  of  the  wing. 


14 


!( 


Ko[)tik'M  you  will  |>rol)ul)ly  not  Hiul,  uiiloss  it  insiy  be  a 
tvoii,  wliicli  of  coiii'sc  should  Ix;  Ht'ciifLMl. 

Tlu'  tisiu's  should  hi!  looked  after  very  piirtieularly,  and 
especially  the  ditlerent  speeies  of  trout,  salmon,  and  white 
lisli,  which  should  be  secured,  if  possible,  of  different  ages 
and  in  the  different  seasons,  to  show  the  variations  of  the 
Rpawninu"  condition. 

Any  larL:;e  salmon  or  trout,  say  over  a  pound  or  two  in 
weight,  would  be  better  preserved  b\'  being  skinned  and  the 
skins  put  in  alcohol,  although  a  sketi'h  of  the  origiiud  ought 
t(>  be  made.  Any  other  species  of  Hsli  you  had  better  pro- 
cure as  they  may  i»resent  themselveH. 

Of  course  it  will  be  important  to  obtain  a  full  representa- 
tion of  the  insects  of  the  country,  8U(,'li  as  butterflies,  bee- 
tles, etc. 

Whatever  species  of  marine  invertebrates  are  procurable 
should  be  gatliered  in;  for  example,  star-fishes,  shells,  crus- 
taceans, and  the  like. 

If  you  should  succeed  in  securing  a  complete  series  of  all 
the  varieties  of  animal  Hie,  if  possible  in  several  sets,  the 
great  object  of  your  mission  will  have  been  accomplished. 

You  should  endeavor  to  secure  a  variety;  but  a  complete 
collection  will  be  of  much  interest.  Any  choice  mineral 
si)ecimens  ought  to  be  obtained,  especially  of  the  crystalline 
varieties.  Get  8am|>les  of  all  the  rocks  constituting  the 
strata.  These  should  be  sketched,  with  their  overlying  po- 
sition indicated  and  verified  by  s[»ecimens. 

Look  very  carefully  for  rocks  containing  fossil  renniins, 
either  of  plants  or  of  animals.  Some  very  interesting  spe- 
cimens of  saurians  have  been  brought  from  diiierent  i)ortions 
of  Arctic  America,  while  the  fossil  plants  are  of  very  great 
importance. 

Make  a  thorough  study  of  the  ethnology  of  the  country, 
securing  as  numy  crania  of  Esquimaux  as  j)racticable;  pro- 
cure skeletons  also  if  they  can  be  got.  Illustrations  of  the 
handiwork  of  the  natives  in  objects  of  stone,  bone,  wood, 
etc.,  ought  to  be  carefully  gathered,  especially  any  that  are 
of  great  antiquity,  and  such  as  are  superseded  by  modern 
articles. 

Spencer  F.  Baird. 

Salem,  Mass. 


IT) 


u 


Tlio  tollowiiic^  extracit  from  tin;  liondon  SUoidurd  of  Au- 
gUHt  the  LStli,  is  of  iiiterertt,  as  sliowiiiij  the  appearance  of 
thiii<:fH  on  board  the  F/orcticc  when  about  to  sail: 

"All  oeeasioiial  eoi'respotKb'iit  writes  I'roin  Now  ^'ork  :  Oji 
the  inorninn'  of  Tuesday,  the  hist  <hi_v  of  'Inly,  I  saw  an  an- 
nouncement in  the  New  V'ork  Jlfnild  to  the  effect  that  the 
Arctic  exph)rin_i2:  ship  J^lnntire,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain (Jeorue  K.  Tvson,  would  sail  from  New  London  on  the 
followinu' (lav.  I  imniciriatelv  resoh'ed,  as  a  member  o|' the 
lust  Ui'itish  l^)hlr  expedition,  to  go  (h)\vn  and  give  him  ami 
his  comrades  a  hearty  farewell  and  (Jod  speeil.  I  took  a 
passage  in  the  handsome  steamer  C'V//  of  Xno  Vorf:,  and 
leaving  New  York  city  in  the  evening  woke  next  morning 
at  New  London.  It  is  a  i)retty  little  town  of  12,000  peoph?, 
situated  on  the  Thai>ies,  a  tine  river,  wider  than  the  English 
one  after  which  it  is  mimed.  New  London  is  of  consider- 
al)le  importance  as  a  seaport,  and  you  meet  there  a  nund)er 
of  persons  Y/ho  have  been  actively  emi)loyed  in  wlialing  and 
sealing.  Lnptiring  my  w^ay  to  Haven's  Dock,  where  the 
Floi'ciu-e  lay,  I  soon  found  her  alongside  the  jetty,  some 
caulkers  closing  the  hold,  and  the  men  carrying  on  board 
their  beds  and  clothes  bags.  On  the  upper  deck  were  some 
casks  of  water  and  barrels  of  biscuits,  firndy  lashed;  also 
plaidvs  and  spare  spars.  The  Florence  is  ([uite  a  small  ves- 
sel, a  schooner  of  56  28-100  tons.  She  has  storage  capacity 
for  800  barrels  of  oil.  She  was  built  at  Wells,  Maine,  in 
1851,  but  is  still  a  staunch  craft  and  good  sea  boat.  J're- 
paratory  to  her  last  cruise  she  was  thoroughly  overhauled 
and  renovated,  and  niade  as  good  as  new.  Iler  length  is 
64  feet,  beam  19  feet,  and  slVe  has  a  deiith  of  7  feet.  She 
carri(-8  no  foretopmast,  and  is  an  aft  schooner  with  a  square 
sailyard  athwart.  Step[)ing  across  a  [»lank,  I  gained  the 
deck,  and  going  aft,  discovered  the  olHcers'  cabin.  It  is  a 
small  space,  measuring  about  eight  feet  in  all  three  direc- 
tions, and  having  a  small  table  in  the  centre;  overhead 
were  stowed  stowed  half  a  dozen  Springtield  rifles  and  a 
double  barrelled  gun.  On  each  side  of  the  cabin  are  two 
bunks,  one  above  the  other.  Those  on  the  jiort  side  are 
approjirialed  t<j  the  use  of  the  scientific  ofHcers,  and  the 
other  two  to  the  second  mate  and  steward.  When  I  was 
there  the  former  gentlemen  were  busily  engaged  in  stowing 
their  effects  in  their  bunks  under  their  beds.     Tins  of  sar- 


T 


fii 


^\ 


1! 


IG 


dines,  novels,  and  newHitapors  wore  oddly  min^tijK'd  with 
articK'H  of  ch-tliiiii!;  und  Hcicntilic  instrutncntH. 

Tlii'rc!  iip])('Ui\'d  to  he  pU'iity  of  w|)ii('i!,  Itut  iniatjinc  tlio 
lalior  of  conHtaiitly  liavin_i!j  to  disaiTanfj^i'  tli(^  entire  eoUection 
in  order  to  obtain  some  triHe  wliicii  happens  to  he  placcid  at 
the  hotloni!  Aft  of  the  caltin,  and  on  cither  side  of  the 
entrance  to  it,  are  two  "state  rooms" — a  |tretentions  title 
for  little  dens  of  six  feet  hy  four,  half  of  which  limited  space 
18  occupied  i)y  the  bed  placed  over  a  small  chest  of  drawers. 
Tlu'se  sanctums  are  desij^ned  for  the  captain  and  tirst  mate. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  cabin  is  the  kitchen,  a  little  cham- 
ber not  tive  feet  hii^h  or  four  feet  wide.  The  crew,  of  whom 
then;  are  eight,  are  located  in  a  small  cabin  in  the  bows; 
they  have  good,  wide  bunks,  which  a]tpi>ar  comfortal)le 
enough.  The  walls  of  the;  othcers'  cabin  are  of  4  inch  plank. 
The  stem  has  been  replanked  with  10-inch  timbers,  covered 
with  2-inch  ])lanks,  giving  her  bow. a  total  thickness  of  six- 
teen inches,  sutHcient  to  resist  the  blows  from  floating  nmsses 
of  ice  which  she  may  expect  to  encounter  in  the  N»jrth. 
She  carries  a  sufficient  stock  of  provisions,  pork,  canned 
meats,  biscuits,  and  sjjirits;  also  15  tons  of  (!oal.  She  is  well 
provided  with  ammunition,  having  6,000  ball  cartridges, 
1,000  poutids  of  Ijuck  shot,  two  barrels  of  powder,  and  200 
pounds  of  ritie  powder.  She  also  takes  plenty  of  whale  line, 
as  she  hopes  to  secure  some  whale's  in  Baffin's  Bay.  The 
i''fort'/(fT  carries  three  boats,  one  hanging  astern  from  davits, 
and  one  on  each  rpiarter.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  lloated 
bravely  at  the  nuisthead;  the  morning  was  bright  and  tine, 
and  a  number  of  spectators  came  on  hoard  to  see  the  vessel, 
or  stood  on  the  Jetty  discussing  her  chances.  Caj»tain  Tysoji 
is  accompanied  by  William  Sisson,  a  portly  native  of  Nvw 
London,  as  tirst  mate.  Dennison  Burrows,  of  New  Lon- 
don, is  second  mate,  and  Eleazer  Cone,  also  of  New  Lon- 
don, is  steward.  Mr.  Orray  Taft  Sherman,  of  Providence, 
a  graduate  of  Yale,  '77,  and  a  tine,  tall  young  man,  under- 
takes the  duties  of  meteorologist  and  photogra[)her,  whilst 
Mr.  Ludwig  Kumlein,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  is  nat- 
uralist. 

The  crew  consists  of  eight  fine  young  fellows  of  from  19 
to  24  j-ears  of  age,  with  one  exception  all  natives  of  New 
London,  and  accustomed  to  a  seafaring  life.  They  seemed 
to  me  the  right  men  for  the  work,  and  had  only  been  en- 
gaged on  the  day  before  I  visited  the  ship.  Asking  one  of 
them  what  his   pay  would  be,  he   replied,  "  A  fiftieth." 


17 


WIkmi  I  Rni(l"Wliiil  of?"  lie  r(>|.rKd,"r  don't  know  iuid 
i-ari!  h'ss,"  Tlioy  rii'cnu'd  iMjUiilly  iiidiU'iTonl  ns  to  wlicii  [\\v.y 
return,  l>nt  liave  tlm  option  ofcotninu;  hack  luixt  ycsar. 

1  aftci-wardM  (•ri)ss('d  tlic  r'nci  in  tlir  I'lTry  to  call  oii  Cap- 
tain IJiiddintffon,  who  was  sailini;-  master  nndcr  ('aptain 
Hall  in  tlu'  Pii/iiris  in  1871,  and  took  the  command  al't*'r  his 
di'ntli.  Asking;  to  he  directi'd  to  the  Captain's  residence, 
which  is  a  mile  or  so  from  the  town,  I  was  olKered  a  seat  in 
liis  hnirify  hy  a  i^'cntleman  who  was  drivimr  that  way,  with 
that  kindness  which  is  so  pleasin,ij^  a  charactcrisiic  of  rhe  ed- 
ucated Aniorican.  TIkm-c  we  i'ound  t!ie  worthy  ("aptain 
amusini;'  himsell',  as  many  old  sailors  love  to  do,  hy  woikimj 
in  his  garden  in  the  cool  of  the  evening-.  ()n  my  inli'othicini^ 
myselthe  welcomed  me  into  his  comfortahlc  <'(>ttai(c,  where 
we  conversed  for  st)me  time  on  Arctic  work  and  enterprise. 
IFe  is  deeply  interested  in  the  matter,  thou^'h,  alter  40  yeai's' 
work  amongst  the  ice  in  the  Northern  and  Southern  seas, 
lie  Justly  thinks  himself  entitled  to  end  his  days  in  the  jieace- 
ful  serenity  of  a  rural  lite.  On  my  risin*,^  to  y-o  he  kindly 
accom])anied  me  half  way  to  the  town,  and  there  Captain 
Tyson  came  on  hoard  the  steamer,  and  wished  i>'ood-hye  to 
Captain  Ilow^ate  and  mvself,  as  we  were  returning  to  New 
York. 

The  Florcnor  had  l)ecn  unahle  to  leave,  hocauso  of  the 
ytate  of  the  wind,  hut  it  was  intended  that  she  should  weigh 
anchor  next  morning.  May  this  exj)edition  advance  a  step 
further  than  its  jjredecfessors  int  >  the  unknown  regions,  and 
add  more  facts  to  the  sum  of  human  knowledge." 

At  ten  minutes  past  ten,  on  the  3d  of  August,  the  tug  took 
her  in  tow,  and  with  a  stifi'  fresh  hreeze  tilling  all  her  canvas, 
and  keeping  her  how  h)rhowwitlitliesteamer, she  went  flying 
down  the  harhor,  dipping  her  colors  in  farewell  to  friends  on 
shore,  who  watched  her  out  of  sight.  On  l)oard  all  was  snug 
and  sliip-sliape ;  hoth  ottieers  and  men  were  impatient  of  the 
delay  which  they  had  met  with,  and  gladly  saw  the  tug 
steaming  out  to  take  her  in  tow.  A  fact  pleasant  to  he  re- 
memhered  was  the  ahsence  of  any  appearance,  much  loss  the 
reality,  of  any  intoxication  amongst  the  crew  of  the  little 
vessel. 

The  following  communication  from  Captain  Tyson  was 
received  on  the  26th  of  August: 


!|!; 


is 


Si'llooNKR   FloHKNCK,  All(/llSt  0,  1M77. 
Captiiiii  II.    \V.    IIowtiATK, 

Vniliil  Stii/rn   Anil'/,    W'iiiliiiiij(<ti,    l>,    f\ 

vSiu:  I  have  tlic  Ikmimp  to  rcpori  tin-  profj^rusH  of  the  I*re- 
lijniiiiirv  I'oliir  I*]\|n'ilition. 

Aiiipisi  "J,  liiiirpasi  ten  A.  M  ,  \vc  It'll  New  London,  with 
llic  wind  lo  tilt'  noi'tlieast.  Tlie  progri'His  inudi'  on  the  siio- 
(H'l'diiii;-  diivrt  und  the  tiicililios  lor  sailing  will  ht-  nhovvn  hy 
tlu'  lollowinij  citalion  from  tin-  lou-: 

AiKjii.sl  .'{. — Lat.  40  r)2,  Ion.  TO:]!!;  wind  N.  K. ;  courrte, 
nniyiK'tio,  8.  K. 

;i^/,/,<,s'/4.— Lilt.  40  40,  Ion.  (18  r)0;  wind  N.  K. ;  courHO,  E. 
8.  Vu 

Auqust  5. — Lai.  41  52,  Ion.  07  1J>;  wind  N.  E. ;  course  E. 
by  N". 

A,i,l„st  n.— Lat  4.'{  i;^,  Ion  05  1  ;  wind  N. ;  vomnv  K.  hy  N". 

Ai'«liisl  7.— Lat.  44  24,  ion.  (I^j  ;;(> ;  wind  8.  VV.;  conis'f  E. 
by  iN',  half  N. 

Aii(/ii,'<(  H. — Oil"  lU'aviT  Island  lij^lit ;   hccahned  in  tog. 

AKiJusi  !). — Lat.  45  l>;  otrCaini)  Cunso;  calm. 

TllJtolJtai    TIIK    STRAITS    OF    liinJ.K    IS1,K. 

It  is  intended  to  sail  across  the  (Jnll"  of  Si.  Lawreiu'e  and 
tlirongh  the  Sti-aits  of  IJcllc  Isle,  tor  thus  W(  .ope  to  save 
tinu'  and  he  rid  of  mucli  had  wcatlicr. 

Although  it  is  now  a  week  since  we  left  port  we  have 
missed  nothing  essential  ironi  the  e(|iiijtineiit.  The  vessel 
meanwhile  has  behaved  sph'iididly,  and  the  crew  have  shown 
tlieniselves  to  he  comijosed  of  good  working  material. 

In  till'  scienlilic  department  work  hasalsoaih'anced,  though 
more  slowly,  since  it  has  been  thought  inex[)edient  to  })lace 
the  instruments.      A  bird  of  a  rare  species  has  been  obtained. 
All  of  us  are  hopeful  of  success. 
Very  respect  fully, 

GEOR(iE  E.  Tyson,  (oft'  Cape  Cause.) 

On  the  22d  of  November,  a  letter  was  received  from  the 
hardy  navigators  which,  as  given  below,  wmII  jirol)al)ly  be  the 
last  that  the  world  will  hear  from  the  Florence  for  many 
months  to  come : 

NiuNTiLicK  Harbor,  Cumberland  Gulf, 

September  29,  1877.' 
Captain  II.  W.  IIowgate, 

United  Stales  Ann;/,   Waithington,  D.  C.: 

Dear  Sur:  After  a  long  and  tedious  passage  of  forty  days 
we  reached  our  present  harbor  on  the  13th  of  September, 


w 


It    tt 


rj 


nnd  r  iiviiil  mysi'irof  the  lirnl  wliiiN'i'  rcliii'nitiL'  to  Scoilmitl 
1<>  coiiiimmiciiii'  with  yoii  mihI  (tiir  liifiKls  v'  lionif.  I  ilo  not 
tiiid  iiiiiltcrs  licru  ii.H  I  liati  lni|ic(l,  ((wiiii;- to  the  |irfSi'Mcc  ofn 
lui'u'r  iiiunbiM'  of  wliaK'i'H  and  Init  li'W  imtivcs.  'Phis  will 
iiiakf  <;r('at  ••oiii|iiiiii()ii  lor  tin'  li'adc  o|'s|<iiis  and  oiIi.t  tna- 
tcrial,  and  coniiHl  lis  to  pay  liiii'licr  piicis  than  would  olhcr- 
wisf  have  hfcn  t!ii'  case.  To  avoid  this  I  would  have  «;onu 
to  anolht'i*  harhor  had  it  hcon  a  littlr  ('arlicr,  hnt  now  it  is 
ton  lali,'  to  att«'iii|il  a  <'haiiu'«'.  *  *•  *  j  shall  soi>ii  niovo 
the  vc'ssuj  into  winter  (|iiartiTs  at  thi-  hi-ad  of  the  uiill,  wIktu 

I  hopO  to  ho   tlKJl'O  HlU'Ct'HHiul. 

1(1  *  *  «  III  4>  4i 

MKAi/ni  OK  THE  ruvw. 
The  health  of  the  nieii  <'ontiniu*s  excellent  and  oiir  siip- 
j)lies  pro\e  of  i^'ood  (luality  and  in  ahimdaMec.  All  feel 
conthlent  of  maUinji"  the  expedition  a  profitahh'  one,  even  if 
we  should  fail  in  eoUeetini;'  ad  the  storen  t;alled  for  in  your 
insti'iietions.  Hut  we  shall  endeavor  to  aeeoin|ilisl)  all  you 
could  w  ish  us  to  d<». 

WUHK    OF    TIIK    MXI'KniTKtN. 

Mr.  Sherman  has  <^ot  fairly  at  work  inakiiiii'  i>liservationH, 
ami  has  obtained  some  o-ood  photosi'raphs  of  whaling;'  and 
native  scenes.  Mr.  Kiindein  is  busy,  and  is  addinif  to  his 
eolleetion  eoiislaiitly,  alth'iUi;-h  a  littU  disappointed  at  tind- 
in^  the  number  of  rare  .^pecimeiiH  tewer  than  he  had  I'Xpeetod 
to  Hnd  them.  Lt  is  yet  too  early  to  say  how  we  shall  fare, 
but  when  the  Krst  ieeliiii;  of  homesiekness  wearsotfand  the 
men  recover  from  the  strain  ojtlu'  loni;'  voyage,  imitlers  will 
look   briyiiter  to    them,  and    they  will   work  with    renewed 

cnerLCy. 

With  i';ood  wishes  to  yon  and  to  all  our  triends  at  homi!, 
1  remain,  with  great  respcet, 

Gkuikje  K.  Tyson. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  return  loi^and  histoi-y  of  the  T'Vo/Yv/rc'.s 
voyai^e  will  contribute  to  a  more  minute  knowlediri'  of  Arc- 
tic phenomena,  meteorolotry,  Hora,  mineralogy,  and  ethnol- 
ogy. As  an  advance-guard  and  pioneer  of  the  main  expedi- 
tion, its  advantages  and  assistance  will  be  valuable.  U]»on 
the  arrival  of  the  main  expedition  at  Disco,  tlie  point  of 
meeting,  its  mend)ers  will  Hnd  awaiting  them,  it  is  hoped, 
suitable  clothing  for  Arctic  wear,  sledges,  trained  dogs,  Escjui- 


I"H 


nmiix  ^ii'kU'k,  liimtiTH  and  lislitTtncn,  utid  iiImo  hcvitmI  Imrdy 
\V('ll-lniiii('<l  iiiid  tlioroii^ldy  lU'diiniiti/cid  Arctic  hcuiui'Ii,  as 
tlu^ri'  'M  liltic  (l»)ul»t  that,  hoiiih  of  tlus  FlDn'ficc's  crew  will 
decide  to  cast  ill  their  lot  with  tlio  main  expedition.  The 
hitter  will  uIho  have  at  thoir  coinniaiid,  and  for  their  /j^iiid- 
nnt'o  the  iid'ormatioii,  t'Xpi^rieiK^e  and  KcientiHc  (hitu  withered 
hy  th(!  preliminary  expedition.  In  a  word,  the  later  comers 
will  find  mnch  ol'their  most  important  rontine  work  of  prepa- 
ration and  snpply  done  for  them  and  ready  to  their  handu, 
and  will  llins  he  cnahictl  to  enter  npon  the  more  arduous 
))ortion  ol  their  nndcrtakin^  with  li;;hter  heartn  and  with 
that  UHHured  (onfidence  which  i«  the  pledge  and  presage  of 
BUeceHH. 

Thi(  dreary  veil  of  the  h)ng,  sutdess  Arctic  wirder  has 
cloHed  hehind  tlu!  brave  and  hardy  naviLfators  of  the  i'Vor- 
e7i<'(\  hidiiij;^  them  for  a  season  alike  from  our  jL^azc^  and  from 
our  eoninuinication.  VV^hat  perils  tL-y  may  meet,  what  dan- 
gers encounter,  what  sutferings  en<lure,  must  remain  u  sealed 
book  to  us  until  the  icy  barriers,  to  which  their  little  craft 
has  been  already  moored,  shall  be  unlocked  by  the  sun  of 
anotlu'r  summer. 

Shall  we  h^ave  unfinished  the  noble  work  which  they 
have  so  gallantly  commenced  ?  Surely  not.  The  eyes  of  our 
own  nullions,  with  those  of  the  whole  civilized  world  abroad, 
have  watched  the  outgoing  of  tlie  Florence  with  her  hardy 
crew,  and  we  should  be  false  indeed,  alike  to  our  past  his- 
tory and  our  future  fame,  if  we  sliould  pause  in  the  work 
of  Arctic  discovery  so  auspiciously  begun.  Private  means 
and  private  enter[)rise  are  good  and  noble  things  in  them- 
selves, and  they  have  placed  in  the  Nation's  hands,  for  her 
fostering  care  and  rearing,  this  ward  of  science,  with  the 
hope  that  the  work  so  fairly  commenced  will  be  pushed  to 
an  early  and  glorious  issue.  This  is  a  national  cause  and 
undertaking;  one  peculiarly  American,  whose  goal  lies 
where  the  lonely  tomb  of  the  martyred  Hall,  with  its  kindly 
English  memorial,  stands,  a  solitary  sentinel,  upon  the  road 
to  glory.    Other  nations  are  taking  tlie  tield  j  foreign  expedi- 


\\r 


n 


us 
ill 
ho 
(1- 
m\ 
rs 
II- 

IH 
l» 

)!' 


tioiiMurc  in  pn'immtloii,  mwl  hIuiII  wo  content  oiirsflvt's  with 
tiikiiiirii  |ir»'liininary  Htcp  and  then  iihaii<l(iiiiii_<;  the  nico? 
With  tlie  iiu'iiiii.TM«>rtlii«  .Si'iiatf  and  of  the  1 1(. use,  rests  tho 
decision  of  the  <iiieHli(.n.  The  hill  which  is  now  hefore  thein 
provides  tor  I'olhtwiMi;:  up  this  ^vvn\  enter|.rise  at  an  insig- 
nificant cost  compared  with  the  vast  harvest  to  he  reaped, 
not  oidy  in  the  fields  of  science,  hut  in  tliu  intorests  of  navi- 
gation, commerce,  and  national  glory. 

ir.    W.    IIuWUATE. 


,a 


i 


i  1 


i 


A  P  P  E  N  I)  r  X    1. 


7V»r  followhKj    is    the   report  mode,    hij  the    No  ml  Committee 
upon  the  bill  to  authorize  the  expedition : 

HOUSE    OF    REPKESP:NTA1IVES. 

AMh  Conc/ress,  2d  Session.     Report  No.  181. 


EXPEPJlTrON"  TO  TTIK  ARCTIC  SEAS. 

February  22,  |877. — lleconiiniltL'd  to  the  Coriiiiiiltee  on    Niiviil    Affairs  luid 

ordered  to  ho  ])riiited. 


Mr.  Willis,  from  the  Committee  on  Niival  Affairs,  sub- 
rnitted  tlic  following  Renort:  [To  accompany  bill  II.  R. 
4,339.] 

The  Committee  o.i  Nural  Af'iirs,  to  lohom  was  referred  the  bill 
{II.  R.  4339)  to  authorize  and  cqaij)  an  expedition  to  the  Arctic 
Seas,  submit  the  following  as  their  report  : 

That  the  object  of  the  bill,  "to  authorize  the  President  to 
fit  out  an  Kxi)edit;on  to  the  Nortli  Pole,  and  to  establish  a 
temporary  colony  for  purposes  of  exploration,"  is  so  interest- 
ing and  im[)ortant  in  its  character  that  they  have,  while  not 
neglectino;  to  gravely  consider  it  with  reference  to  its  results 
both  to  science  and  commerce,  availed  themselves  of  all  in- 
formation accessible,  and  called  in  re([uisition  the  testimony 
and  experience  of  men  pre-eminent  in  scientific  experience 
and  learning,  whose  communications  are  hereto  appended 
and  made  a  part  of  this  report. 

The  first  incjuiry  pursued  was  whether,  within  the  pur- 
view of  the  Constitution  or  otherwise,  to  fit  out  an  explora- 
tion such  as  the  l.nll  proposes  was  an  appropriate,  legitimate 
function  of  the  Government,  for  the  exercise  of  which  taxes 
could  be  properly  levied  upon  the  people;  and,  if  so,  whether 
the  nation  would  get  value  received  for  the  expenditure  in- 
curred, and  the  perils  to  which  its  citizens  would  be  exposed. 

In  reaching  a  determination,  the  fact  has  not  been  con- 
sidered that  there  are  numerous  precedents  in  our  history 
precisely  covering  the  present  case,  to  wit,  the  joint  resolu- 
tion authorizing  the  acceptance  of  Mr.  Grinnell's  vessels, 


ill  I 


28 


ajipvovcfl  May  2,  1850;  tlie  resolution  roHpcctiiii):  tlic  Kane 
exju'dition,  a]i|(r(»v(Ml  I'\-lii'iiaiT  X,  IS'),');  tlic  Hall  (Polaris) 
fcX[icM.lition,  [)^v(i  k's^islativu,  executive,  and  Judieial  liill,  ap- 
proved July  12,  1S70;)  tlm  Wilken  ex|»lonii_ii;  expedition,  ap- 
j)rovt'd  May  14,  1830,  (st'o  naval  appiopriation  bill  of  tiiat 
year.) 

The  aetion  of  tlie  Governnieiit  in  tlie  foregoing  insstunees 
indicatew  the  views  of  j)revious  Congresses  respeeting  sueh 
a  measure,  as  all  such  ex|u'ditions  liave  been  eoiuhieted  un- 
der the  anspie(>s  of  the  National  (Jo\'ernine»it,  Nor  has  any 
ini  porta  iK.H!  been  attached  to  the  action  of  other  governnients, 
who  not  only  heretofore  have  iiniugurated  such  enterju'ises, 
but  are  eonti'niplating  the  inauguration  of  others  on  a  mag- 
nificent  scale. 

We  have  ascertained,  to  oui-  satisfaction,  tluit  tlu'  results 
yielded  by  prior  explorations  in  the  Polar  Seas  have  incal- 
culably benefited  t'.ie  whole  world;  tliat  the  knowledge  ac- 
quired by  exjierinieiit  and  discovery  in  that  region  can  be 
obtained  in  no  other  way  and  in  no  other  section  of  the 
globe;  that  such  knowledge  is  an  important  factor  in  the 
regulation  of  commerce,  which  is  absolutely  dependent,  so 
far  as  decreasing  the  jjcrils  of  tlie  deo[)  and  eidarging  the 
boumlaries  of  tnivigation  are  concerned,  upon  the  knowl- 
edge of  [diysical  laws. 

The  Constitution  gives  Congress  power,  in  section  8  of 
article  1 — 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations. 

And  also  in  the  same  section  and  article — 

To  m.ike  nil  laws  wliich  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying  into  ex- 
ecution the  foregoing  powers. 

So  the  question  as  to  the  power  of  the  Government  is 
without  the  donniin  of  doubt  or  discussion. 

The  Government  has  the  constitutiontil  power.  Is  it 
proper  to  exercise  it? 

Whatever  benefits  are  harvested  favf)r  no  special  interest 
or  class.  Tlie  added  knowledge  obtained  is  the  property  of 
mankind. 

Give  a  subsidy,  you  .enrich  a  corporation  l»y  extorting 
from  the  body  politic.  Impose  a  duty  for  the  purpose  of 
protecting  a  ]5iirticular  imhistry,  you  enrich  a  few  while  you 
impoverish  the  many.  Kxphu'c  the  remote  corners  f)f  the 
eartii,  you  awaken  iiuniiry,  add  to  the  stock  of  infornnition, 
And  contribute  essentially  to  man's  nnistery  over  the  elements. 

Nojie  among  those  who   believe   that   money  is  well  ex- 


24 


*i 


ponded  to  iiicnase  kiiowlodii'o,  to  iniprovt'  the  clianocs  of 
litV',  to  onliU'iJ'o  the  coitunerce  of  our  iiiition,  and  who  appre- 
eiiite  the  ncttahh-  resnlts  ah-eady  achieved  in  this  spt'cial  tiehl 
of  adventuiH'  and  study,  will  belittle  oi-  snt-er  at  the  enter- 
prise j)i'()j»()sed  in  this  hill.  Soin(!  deelare,  hy  way  of  depre- 
cation, that  failure!  and  disaster  have  been  the  reward  of  the 
dauntless  exi)l()rer.  In  a  certain  measure,  true.  lUit  the 
ends  aimed  at  are  worthy  of  saerilice.  Hail  and  Franklin 
died  just  as  ^-loriously,  just  as  serviceahly,  just  as  heroically, 
as  Warren  at  Buidcer   Hill  or  Sedii^wiek  at  the  Wilderness. 

Valuahlc  eypei'ience  and  information  liax'e  heen  ohtained 
within  past  years  which  are  now  at  the  service  of  any  new 
explorer,  and  new  plans  based  on  such  exiierienee  and  itdbr- 
mation  have  been  examined  by  your  honorable  committee, 
which  point  out  tlie  causes  that  havi!  hitherto  contributed  to 
disaster  and  i)artial  failure. 

This  plan  is  ktiown  as  "  Polar  Colonization,"  and  has  re- 
ceived hearty  in(h)rsoment  from  such  distini>'uislu'd  experts,^ 
scientists,  students,  and  exjilorers  as  I'rofessor  .Joseph 
IleniT,  president  of  the  National  Academy  of  Sciences; 
Professor  Loomis,  of  Yale  Colk\ire  ;  President  Potter,  of 
Union  C'ollcii'e ;  Admiral  I'ortiM-;  Kear-Admiral  Davis,  su- 
perintendent of  the  National  Observatory;  IFon.  ('harles  P. 
Daly,  )»resi(lent  of  the  American  Geoiiraphical  Society;  Dr. 
Isaac  I.  Hayes,  the  explorer,  and  others,  wiiile  it  is  heartily 
approved,  also  by  the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  Navy;  and 
your  committee  are  inclined  to  commend  it  to  the  favor  of 
Congress,  more  especialh'  if  its  execution  be  intrusted,  as  ^he 
bill  provides,  to  the  iVesident,  under  the  direction  of  the 
National  Academy  of  Science. 

The  entrance  to  Robeson's  Channel,  81°  N.,  can  be  readily 
reached  by  steam  vessels.  Surveys  by  the  Polaris  in  1871, 
and  the  Alert  and  Discovery  in  1875,  have  been  made  to  a 
point  within  four  hundred  miles  of  the  pole. 

As  the  Polaris  was  reachinji;  the  northern  extremity  of 
Robeson's  Channel,  there  api»eared  what  was  seemingly, 
and  what  those  best  qualified  to  judge  believed  to  be,  an 
open  Polar  sea.  This  sea  could  have  been  reached  had  the 
vessel  arrived  at  such  point  ev<'n  an  hour  before,  and  the 
dream  of  explorers  would  have  been  a  reality;  but  the  ad- 
venturous party  were  forced  back,  ami  wintered  but  a  short 
distance  from  the  unex])lored  waters. 

Captain  Nares,  in  1875-'7G,  encountered  above  this  chan- 


HI 

ll 


hti-. 


25 


Tie!  an  uiihrokcn  field  of  ice,  too  solid  to  penetrate  with  ves- 
sels, too  uneven  to  he  traversed  hy  sk'di^e  |)arties. 

So,  it  will  he  ohserved,  seasons  there  are  no  less  variahle 
than  our  own.  Sometimes  the  mighty  Helds  of  ice  are 
hroken  up  and  carried  away  hy  favoring  tides;'  sometimes 
the  ice  presents  an  im|iassil)le  harrier. 

To  siKrceed  under  such  plans  as  have  formerly  heen  fol- 
lowed woidd  he  simply  l)ecause  chance  supported  them.  To 
make  success  assiu'cd,  the  men  and  the  vessels  must  he  nitrh 
the  channel,  ready  for  the  fortunate  houn,  and  prepared  to 
to  take  i»rom)it  advantage.  To  ohviate  the  ditliculty  and 
meet  the  exig*'ncy,  Polar  colonization  is  declared  tiie  ap- 
propriate mode,  and  is  therefore  urged  hy  the  distinguished 
gentlejuen  we  have  name(L 

This  plan  re(|uii'es  that  the  colonization  party  should  num- 
her  at  least  fifty  hardy,  resolute  men,  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  for  sufh  service,  provided  with  siipidies  and  i)rovisi()n8 
for  at  least  three  years;  that  a  strong,  sul)stantial  building 
should  he  carried  on  ship-hoard;  that  the  princii>al  depot 
should  l»e  in  Lady  Franklin  Bay,  between  81°  and  82°,  or, 
if  [lossible,  as  high  as  Cape  [l^nion,  hetweiMi  latitude  82°  and 
88°;  the  United  States  vessel  to  be  used  only  for  transport- 
ing mill  and  supplies  to  the  location  of  the  colony,  the  ves- 
sel then  to  retur;  >>  the  United  States, and  afterward  to  nuike 
annual  visits,  with  fresh  su]t[>lies,  and  to  keep  the  colony  in 
communication  with  the  outer  world;  military  disci[)line  to 
be  enforced  ;  three  cinumissioned  officers  and  two  surgeons 
to  be  selected,  with  a  view  to  their  peculiar  fitness;  an  as- 
tronomer and  two  or  more  naturalists  to  be  selected  hy  the 
National  Academy  of  Sciences;  and  that  one  or  more  mem- 
bers of  the  regular  force  should  be  competent  to  make  me- 
teorological ol)servations,  and  to  communicate  by  telegraph 
and  signals,  when  necessary. 

Such  are  the  main  features  of  the  plan,  which  also  pro- 
vides that  all  due  precaution  shall  be  had  to  afford  safeguards 
against  scurvy,  against  the  ill  effects  of  cold,  and  also  to  pro- 
tect the  colon V  from  iiunger. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  point  where  the  colony  is  to  locate, 
coal  abounds,  game  is  plentiful.  Esfpiimaux  men  can  he  had 
to  re-enforce  and  guide  the  expeditioiuiry  corps,  and  Es(pii- 
maux  doys  to  draw  the  sledges.  The  men  become  accli- 
mated  after  a  few  years,  and  Captain  FTall,  who  was  eight 
years  among  the  Esquimaux,  testifies  that  each  year  ended 


26 


found  liiia  bettor  fitted  to  eiulure  the  severity  of  the  Arctic 
Circle. 

()th(!r  nations  are  at  this  moment  hnrrvinir  forward  ex- 
plorinif  oxpeditions  to  Ix;  prosecuted  under  this  plan. 

Noble  men  in  our  own  country  ari'  eaijer  to  enlist  in  the 
entei'prise.  .. 

TntL'lligent  and  lilx'ral  capitalists  are  ready  to  ii:\ve  of  their 
means  to  forward  it. 

There  has  never  before  been  an  op|K)rtunity  afforded,  so 
promisiiiij^  in  resiilts  as  the  om>  wdiich  now  presents  itself. 

To  make  such  exploratiouH  entirely  sut-cesffful,  it  is  essen- 
tial that  simultaneous  observations  ^(;  had  atdifilu'cnt  points 
within  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  for  (iontinuous  jjcriodsof  time. 

Kni^land,  durins:  the  present  year,  will  fit  out  two  vessels 
under  the  explorer  Nares,  on  a  Polar  expedition  via  the  east 
coast  of  Greenland. 

Sweden,  in  1878,  under  the  auspices  of  Professor  Nordon- 
skjold,  will  exjtlore  the  Polar  regions  via  Norway  across  to  by 
way  of  Ikdiring's  Strait. 

iJolland  has  determined  upon  another. 

Gernumy,  uiuler  the  direction  of  the  Arctic  Exploration 
Society,  has  an  Obi  expedition,  commanded  by  Captain 
Wiggins,  now  on  duty. 

Russia,  dui'ing  the  coming  spring,  will  push  forward  an 
ethnological  expedition,  under  the  Helsingsfors  professor,  to 
the  Vogels  and  Ostyacs  of  the  Obi  and  Irtysh. 

And  eminent  explorers  as  well  as  scientific  societies  of  all 
civilized  countries  are  busying  themselves  in  an  endeavor  to 
establish  stations  at  different  points  in  the  Arctic  regions 
with  a  view  of  sj'stematic  synchronous  observations,  which 
are  absolutely  essential,  with  a  view  to  progress  in  scientific 
discoveries. 

There  is  scarcely  a  natural  scdence  but  would  be  enlarged 
and  utilized  by  proper  observations  in  the  Polar  seas.  Natu- 
ral forces  there  are  subject  to  extreme  conditions,  and  conse- 
quently produce  phenomena  not  seen  elsewhere,  and  which 
serve  to  unveil  the  character  of  the  forces  themselves. 

Terrestrial  magnetism,  hitherto  deemed  a  science  of  com- 
parative unim[K)rtance,  is  now  deemed  the  most  consequen- 
tial branch  of  physics;  it  is  controlled  by  cosmical,  atmos- 
pherical, and  terrestrial  action,  and  in  the  economy  of 
nature  exercises  a  recijirocal  control. 

Reliable  observations  show  the  existence  of  galvanic  cur- 
rents and  the  relationship  between  nuignetic  disturbances 


i 


27 


and  nortliorn  liirlits  iuid  eartluiiiiikes,  while  it  is  woU  known 
that  niii'^'iietisni  is  in  inscjjiinihlc  citniu'ction  with  n'alvanism 
and  oliH'tricity.  In  the  cxtrmii'  norlh  the  needle  is  rarely 
stutionarv.  There,  too,  tiie  wrathful  stoi-nis  ra^e  an  nowhere 
else.  8neh  are  the  reasons  why,  it  this  intensely  intere'st- 
ing  science  is  to  y-row,  ohscrvatitms  tiiust  he  iiad  in  that  re- 
rnott^  ai'chi[)claL';<>  of  ice. 

Seai'(!ely  less  iiilcrestiuu',  ami  no  less  innnirtant  to  the 
woi'Id,  than  terrestrial  niauiietism  is  a.  knowledge  of  tht,'  at- 
nios|ihere  and  its  phenoim-na,  es|)('cially  their  relation  to 
lioat  and  inoi>turi',  whii-h  is  ttoniprehended  in  nu'teorolo<;-y. 
In  tlu-  tar  tiorlh,  and  liiere  only,  can  l)e  ascertained  the 
ettect  of  that  immense  ati'u'reu'iil'<»n  of  ice;  how  heat  is  en- 
gendered and  distriliuted;  how  dry  and  humid  currents  are 
created  and  i)Ut  in  motion  to  conuninii'le  and  eond»at  each 
other;  to  what  extent  clinuite  is  atfeeted  in  this  wise,  and 
how  hurricanes,  which  visit  mankind  with  wrathful  destruc- 
tion, oriy'inate.  Is  it  necessary  to  exhihit,  l»y  any  process 
of  reasoning,  tlie  utility  of  sueii  knowledge,  the  advantages 
which  wou[(l  aceumulate  to  staeiice  and  to  conimerce? 

The  tlattening  of  the  earth  at  the  Pole,  and  tlie  extraordi- 
nary rt'tVactions  tiiere,  would  yield  such  o[)portunities  for 
investigation  as  would  enable  us  to  measure  the  earth  with 
greater  accuracy,  to  correct  lines  of  latitude  and  longitude, 
and  also  greatly  facilitate  the  study  of  astronomy. 

Natural  history  and  bntany  woidd  he  vastly  enriched,  as 
is  attested  by  the  exist  'uce  of  rare  flora  and  fauna. 

Geology  has  found  there  the  ground  work  of  new  theo- 
ries, and  the  explanation  of  many  old  ones.  In  Siberia  are 
found  animals  of  anterioi'  worlds,  while  in  Nova  Zembia, 
Spitzbergen,  and  Greenland  are  fossils  so  ahuiuhmt  and  rare 
that  the  paleontologist  exults  in  his  enlarged  s[)here. 

Wonderful  already  are  the  discoveries  made  in  eac^h  field 
of  infiuii'V  noted;  but  we  are  yet  in  the  vestihule.  The  re- 
gion of  the  unknowahle  is  just  beyond;  we  are  invited 
thither.  We  know  enough  to  realize  the  wealth  which 
awaits  us. 

Hitherto  observations  have  l)een  limited  and  imperfect, 
the  most  important  of  them  wiiolly  neglected  ;  accurate  data 
as  to  all  of  the  sciences  named  are  wanting. 

Geographic  discovery  has  hitherto  been  the  objective 
point.  While  this  is  praiseworthy,  while  it  a<lds  a  most  im- 
portant chapter  to  the  owok  of  knowledge,  it  should  not  he 
the  primary  object  to  which  all  others  are  subordinated. 


•IH 


I 


M 


W 


t^ 


An  iihsoliite  cliiinift'  ot'  ()|icr:itioiis  must  he  liiid.  '^Fliis 
cluuiii't'  will  1)1!  cHrctcd  l)y  tliu  i)iissim'i'  of  llie  bill  II.  K. 
4, ;?-■)!•.  It  iiicL'ts  tlic  exact  lU'Cfl.  It  |tr()vi<l<'s  for  a  loiiu'stay, 
wliifli  will  j^ivL'  aiii|»l('  op|M»i'tiiiiit_v  for  observations  and  tlio 
coinlni't  of  siricntific  ciHiuiiw  under  the  most  fa\'orin<;  con- 
ditions. It  provides  tliat  an  inteHiii'ent  system  sli:ill  he  pur- 
siied,  under  tlu'  direction  of  the  Natloiud  vXcadcmv  of  Sci- 
ences. 

Ordinarily,  the  e.vpeditions  have  lajeii  so  conducted  as  tc> 
actually  pn-clude  scieiitilic  discovei-y — all  ap|)lianccs  left  at 
home,  and  almost  continuous  locomotion. 

Other  nations  arc  adoptinj^  the  same  nn-tliods,  and  while 
American  scientists  are  takint>'  observations  in  the  vicinity 
of  Robeson's  Strait,  lik(!  observations  will  be  taken  in  Behr- 
inij's  Strait,  on  the  east  coast  of  Greenland,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Spitzheryen,  and  at  other  points,  simultaneously  covering 
the  wdiolo  Held — belting  tlie  whole  Arctic  world — for  several 
eonsocutive  years. 

Other  nations  are  already  there  or  gettinji:  in  readiness  to 
be  tiiere.  The  way  thronii;h  Smith's  Sound,  where  J)e 
Haven,  Kane,  Hall,  and  Hayes,  by  their  heroic  researches, 
have  i>"iven  immortal  i^Iory  to  America,  seems  tt)  be  the  tit- 
test  field  for  Americans  in  this  race  for  compiest  and  discov- 
ery. Tt  is  familiar,  and  other  fields  are  alreudy  chosen  by 
other  governments. 

Dismiss  the  unsettled,  vexed  (piestion,  which  is  the  most 
direct  and  practicable  route  to  the  I'ole?  C'onditions  vary. 
One  year  one  is  preferable,  another,  another;  all  are  equally 
rich  in  scientiti<!  treasures,  and  will  yield  to  searchers  after 
knowledge  an  eijual  harvest,  though  the  weight  of  testimony, 
even  for  geographical  discovery,  is  in  favor  of  the  American 
route,  as  the  exhiljits  ap|)ende(l  indicate. 

The  [»lan  which  this  bill  contemplates  happily  blends  geo- 
graphical and  scientific  discovery;  it  will  lacilitate  both,  and 
result  in  both. 

The  importance  of  the  fitting-out  of  this  expedition  at 
this  ])artictdar  time,  with  a  view  of  co-operation  with  others, 
should  not  be  out  of  mind,  for  meteorology  depends  upon 
comparison  resulting  from  simultaneous  observations.  The 
laws  of  storms  and  the  theories  of  winds  depend  u[)on  such 
comparison.  In  no  other  mode  can  conclusive  results  be 
attained. 

If  we  make  any  pretense  as  friends  of  science,  we  must 
pursue    the    only    metliods    whereby    development   can    be 


I 


29 


achieved.  Those  methofls  have  Ucmmi  iioiiited  ^)\\\.  I)iit  sup. 
lH's'm^we  should  diHre_L;ar(l  the  iiii|iiilsf  oT  lioimr  and  liI' •!'}■; 
8ii|>i)OHing  wo  wore  coiitroUed  alone  Itv  the  iiistiiiet  ol"  a  hu- 
preiiie  selfishiiesH,  whieli  eoiisidern  iiothiiiir  hut  the  (luestious, 
Will  it  payy  will  it  liel]»  eominei-ee  ?  will  it  tcoiioiuize  liuiiuin 
lite  and  proiterty?  there  would  still  he  sullieieiit  reasons  left 
to  Justify  this  undortakin^u;. 

We  can  Kuppcu't  this  statement  sufReieiitlv  hy  aeecpting 
the  testimony  of  I'rof.  Klias  Loomis,  ol"  ^'aie  (.\)llege,  wdio 
says,  in  his  adndrahle  letti-r,  lieri'to  apiieiidnd  : 

The  viiHl  exicnsioii  uf  llie  coiimicrcc  of  tin-  wnrlil  in  ri'ciiiil  times,  uiid  its  in- 
creased Heourity,  are  duis  in  no  sniiill  dcfiroe  to  more  ftccnrato  i n form st ion 
reHpeciini;  the  i)liysii's  of  tiie  f^lobi-,  iiiuludiiif;  siu'li  Hulijccts  hh  llic  nieiui  direc- 
lioii  iiiid  foi'fc  of  iju'  priviilciit  winds;  i  lie  liiws  of  slornis;  tlie  use  of  tlic  ba- 
romeler  in  fiiviiijj;  wiiminii  of  iiiiiiroiieliiii;f  violent  winds:  liie  surest  mode  of 
esciip'Mg  tlie  vioieiiee  of  n  storm  wlien  oveiiiilcen  \iy  ii  jrnle  ;  llie  must  advan- ' 
lageouM  route  from  one  (mrl  to  aiiotlier;  liie  diieeiioii  iind  velocity  of  the  cur- 
rent in  every  ocean;  (he  variiition  of  tlie  rnii^ttietic  needb'  in  nil  latitudes,  and 
its  changes  from  year  toyeiir;  together  with  inuiiy  other  jirohlenis ;  and  most 
of  these  invosiigations  liave  bi^cn  trri'iuly  f;u'iliiaied  \>y  oliservntioim  which 
have  been  made  witliin  the  Arctic  refiions.  I  do  not  rejjard  it  as  any  exapge- 
ration  to  claim  ihal  the  benefits  which  li:ive  resulted,  both  directly  and  indi- 
rectly, to  the  coniinerce  of  the  world  in  conser|ueiice  of  Polar  ex|iedition.«,  are 
more  than  equal  to  all  the  money  which  has  been  exjiended  on  these  cnter- 
jiriaes. 

Last  year  a  whalini>;-tleet  of  twelve  vessels  was  wrecked  in 
tlio  Arctic  tSoa,  and  proi>erty  to  the  anumnt  of  half  a  million 
of  dollars  destroyed,  all  hocause  of  a  lack  of  proper  knowl- 
edge of  climatic  and  tidal  intluences,  which  can  alone  he 
ohtained  hy  ohservations  made  in  the  manner  provided  for 
in  this  l)ill. 

Business  men  liave  a  keen  ap[)reciation  of  the  importance 
of  those  exi)lorationsto  commerce.  They  have  always  heen 
anxious  to  aid  them  hy  liheral  contrihutions.  Some  of  them 
have  heen  prosecuted  solely  hy  jtrivate  means.  Tiie  names 
of  many  merchants  have  heen  y:iven  to  capes  and  hays  and 
promontories  and  straits  as  vouchers  of  the  fame  they  have 
so  justly  earned  hy  intelligent  devotion  to  science. 

Boards  of  trade  and  ehand)ers  of  commerce  are  now, 
through  memorials,  already  hefore  this  committee,  invoking 
us  to  [lass  this  hill,  and  renew  the  honorahlc  work. 

The  cost  is  slight.  The  ends  aimed  at  will  provoke  no 
intelligent  opposition.  The  methods  proposed  are  not  ex- 
perimental, hut  the  product  of  experience.  They  have  the 
sanction  and  even  the  warmest  commeiuhition  of  all  scien- 
tific men  of  all    nations.       The  supervision  of  the  ^Sational 


80 


Acaili'iny  "f  ScicniM's  will  iiisiii'c  wise  ppovlHioiiH  iiikI  nafo- 
guaids  iii^aiu.st  accidi'iU,  disease,  or  liiiliu'c.  Di-.  Hayes,  the 
eminent  aiid  Hue<-essl'iil  Arctic  explorer,  coiiicidcH  fully  u'itli 
the  views  herein  expressed,  iih  also  do  others  faniiliiir  l)y 
actual  ex)M'i'ieMi'c. 

'I'lie  honoi-  of  the  Anu'rii'an  name  is  invohed.  Will  (^)n- 
gress  suppress  this  zealous  spii'it  of  impiiry  and  adventure, 
or  give  it  scope  Ity  the  [lassage  of  this  hill,  and  a  meagre  ap- 
propriation oi" fifty  thousand  (lollars  V  To  us  it  ajiix-ars  thorn 
should  he  hut  on(!  answer,  and,  tlu-refore.  we  ri'|u>rt  back 
th(i  hill  with  the  recommendation  that  it  do  pass. 


APTET^DIX   2. 


\ 


The  following  letter  is  from  a  gentleman  who  was  con- 
nected with  Arctic  exploring  parties  in  the  seach  lor  Sir 
John  Fraidvlin.  lie  had  tin-  frit'udship  and  esteem  of  Dr. 
Klisha  Kent  Kane,  and  is  often  referred  to  in  the  works  of 
that  lamented  y-entleman  : 

St.  Andhem's,  Manitojja,  ) 
August  '22(1,  1S77.      / 
To  ihc.  Il]i/i/oi'  of  the  Nt'ir  Loudon  Tclcf/rnin  : 

Sir:  in  a  lati;  issue  ol' a  local  pa])erof  this  ])ro\'ince  I  Hnd 
that  a  Polar  expedition  is  now  in  course  of  etinipment,  and 
will  sail  from  New  York  in  July  next.  As  one  who  takes 
an  interest  in  Ai'ctic  matters,  having  commanded  one  of 
Lady  Franklin's  pi'ivate  Arctic  expeditions,  will  you  kindly 
permit  me,  through  you,  to  say  byway  of  sympathy  and  en- 
couragement to  those  going,  that  1  considei-  such  an  enter- 
prise as  likely  to  be  productive  of  two  jtrimary  results. 

1  believe,  in  the  first  place,  that  from  the  highest  north- 
ern points  attained  by  Hall  and  Nares,  the  North  Pole  may 
be  easily  reached,  and  by  sledges.  To  accomplish  this  it  is 
only  necessary  to  have  ])roper  men  and  other  appropriate 
equipment.  The  men  should  be  those  accustomed  to  the 
use  of  snow  shoe  and  sled.  Their  food  should  consist  mainly 
of  pemican  and  dried  meat,  prepared  after  the  manner  of 
the  Red  river  buftido  hunters.     Such  food  is  compact,  nu- 


i 


\i{ 


triti()iis,!i!i(l  tiot  likely  to  ^ivcsciirvv.  Tlu'irclothiiii;  sl)(>ul(l 
\h'  rttroiii;',  u'ooli'ii  muK'i'clotliiiiu;,  with  ilri'ssi'd  iiiodsi'-si^in,  or 
itrt  ru'iirt'st  e(niiv;ilciit,  as  oiiti^i-  «jfanii(.!Uts.  A.s  loot  ^car 
iiolhiiiU'  <'aii  t'i|iial  the  Indian  inoccaHin. 

To  l)»'  in'i'iiai'i'd  \\)v  every  eventuality  tliey  slKuild  l)e  pro- 
vided with  two  kinds  of  slediics — the  l']M(irnnan.\  sli'd, 
which  has  runners,  anti  the  Indian  tiat  sled.  Tlie  HrsI  is 
best  tittiMl  I'oi'  runninii,'  over  crusted  snow,  the  othei-  (»\-er 
Hol'l  snow,  such  as  Nares  I'ounil.  The  t'liel  loi-  Journeys 
HJiould  he  spirits  of  wine,  ami  snow  houses  for  shelti-r,  in- 
Htoud  of  tents;  the  hevera^e  only  tuu  and  cotlee — no  sj)iiits 
whatsoever. 

Beinn"  thus  provided  and  settinu:  «'iif  <l"i<'  iH'ftli.say  on  tho 
tii'st  ol  April,  Mai'cli,  in  so  hii^h  a  latitude,  would  he  too 
cold,  say  from  latitude  H()'^  nortli,  they  vvotdd  have  four 
months  before  tlu;m  for  accoinpHshin_<i'  the  distance  of  twelve 
hundred  miles — a  leaf  that  has  already  been  accomplished. 
Instead  of  an  open  "polar  s.'a"  it  is  most  likely  the  party 
would  find  a glay/u'r-eovered  land  tt)  travel  over.  The  unusu- 
ally beav}'  ice  that  Sir  G.  Xares  met  with,  is  to  be  indicative 
of  land-formed  ice,  jirecisely  similar  To  that  found  in  the 
Antarctic  ri'i;-ion. 

'^riie  "o|)('n  polar  sea"  will,  1  lu'lieve,  be  in  the  I'ud  i'ouml 
to  be  the  liiil  end  of  the  <i,-ulf  sti'cam.  Thiscui'reiit  entering 
the  Arctic  regions  between  Iceland  and  Nova  Zemhla,  I 
beli\-e,  sweeps  westward  after  meeting  with  noi'thern  un- 
known laiid>  and  ultimately  finding  its  way  to  J-iobt-son's  (of 
!Narcs)  channel,  enters  t liat  and  so  passes  southward  through 
Baliin's  IJay  into  the  Atlantic. 

A  stream  like  this  can  alone  account  for  Arctic  summer 
birds,  in  going  north  in  autumn  and  south  in  spring,  in 
going  to  and  returning  fi-om  flieii-  w  inter  haunts.  They  may 
fairly  be  su[)poscd  to  round  the  northern  coast  line  of  (Jreen- 
land,  being  thus  guideil  by  the  lilghcr  tem[>eraturc  Itoth  ot 
tbe  water  and  the  atmosphere  in  this,  the  supposed  termi- 
natii»n  of  the  gulf  stream. 

Cold,  dismal,  and  uninviting  as  the  Smith  Sound  region 
is,  it  nevertheless  has  its  undeveloped  resources  no  less  than 
other  countries.  The  walrus  seem  to  be  abuiKhmt  in  that 
region,  also  the  polar  bear,  the  musk  ox,  the  reindeer,  and 
other  animals.  With  the  aid  of  tlie  Ivsquimaux,  provided 
with  the  proper  recjuisites  for  it,  they  might  [)rocure  large 
numbers  of  these  animals.     The  seam  of  coal  discovered  by 


88 


!    I 


4 


NftrcH  would  fiiipply  a  first  roquiHiU'  for  a  cotnfortiiblc  firo- 

81(1 «'. 

Till'  cxpcdilioji  hIiouM  <'iirrv  with  it  iircHoiitH  lor  the  Ks- 
quiiniiiix,  Hiidi  uh  huwh,  iixen,  kiiivcH,  lisli-liooks,  awls,  ^iiii- 
jcts,  (irillH,  liUis,  needles,  iuid  other  iiteiisiU.  Tlie  {''sciuiiiiiuix 
discovered  by  tlie  lute  liiinelited  Dr.  Kiiiie  iire  riiitetj  SlilteH 
citizens,  iiiid  imist  he  liviiii;-  in  that  state  that  ijjeologists  de- 
Bcril)o  as  ti)C'  "stone  and  iron  a^e."  Any  tool,  thorul'oro, 
with  an  t'du'e  to  it  must  l)e  of  inealcnlnhle  valne  to  sueh  a 
j»eo|)le.  With  a  moderate  supply  of  tlu-se,  hut  more  than 
all,  with  yuns  and  ammunition,  such  as  we  may  sup])oso  to 
be  stored  in  United  »States  stores,  as  now  useless  relies  of  the 
late  war,  how  much  mitcht  he  done  to  incorpoi'ate  "  the  less 
advanced  with  tht;  more  j)rojL:fressive  man,"  and  so  turn  to 
account  that  which  is  at  present  as  if  it  were  not  in  ex- 
istence. 

Very  truly  yours, 

William  Kennedy, 

Late  Commandig  Lady  Franklin't  Private  Arctic  Expedition. 


